This is a blog about fly fishing for Carp. Well, kind of... I can’t catch Carp on the fly all year long so it’s also about fly fishing for anything that will take a fly. Mixed in are thoughts on fishing, thoughts on life, fly tying, some cool pictures, and a bit of humor here and there.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sand Lance Minnow

Anadromous fish spawn in fresh water but migrate to salt water to spend most of their lives. Locally, our anadromous fish population includes 5 species of Pacific Salmon. They are Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Chum (Dog), Pink (Humpy), and Sockeye (Red). They migrate to the ocean because there are zillions upon zillions of baitfish for them to eat and grow big. On the return trip to spawn in their natal stream they still are eating while they move through the Straights, and the Sound. Locally some of those baitfish the Salmon eat include Herring and Sand Lance.

This Minnow Pattern looks the most like a Sand Lance. Tying a bunch of these involves grumbling at the Angel Hair material because it is so wispy, stacking multiple colors of the angel hair on the hook, tacking on eyes, gluing them on, and then spinning them dry. Gluing the eyes on with 5 minute epoxy is as much work as tying. If I haven't tied this fly in awhile (and I hadn't) it takes me a few flies to remember how to get the glue even on the eyes.

I am looking forward to using these flies this coming fall. I fish this fly in the salt water as the Silvers and the Humpies are returning to look for "dates" in their natal streams. This fly has not produced well for me at all in the rivers but has been good to me in the salt.

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About Me

I am a lifelong Washington State resident. I have been a licensed real estate agent since 1971. I have had the privilege of being a teacher since 1973. I taught Marketing and was the DECA Advisor at Marysville-Pilchuck High School from 1975-2009. I also taught Principles of Marketing through Everett Com. College.
My wife, Katy, and I have been happily married since 1977. I am more madly in love today than I ever knew I could be. We enjoy the Pacific Northwest. We hike, kayak, and snowshoe. We also enjoy reading and writing, heck part of the time it rains here you know.
My earliest memory is fishing with my dad when I was four years old; fishing is in my blood. I fly fish avidly and release all my fish. I have caught many species of trout, four species of Pacific Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. My favorite species to fly fish for is Carp. Yes, Carp. They are smart, big, strong, wary, and in so many ways the world’s greatest sport fish.
I serve as the National Fly Fishing Director for the Carp Anglers Group. I am the Fly Fishing Editor for North American Carp Angler magazine and I write a column called The Last Cast.